Page 30 of Reign

“That’s my uncle’s boat.”

“The leader of the Miami Bratva,” I say, just to clarify.

“One and the same,” Nikita confirms, and I notice his face grows dark as he says it. Before I can question him about it, he adds impatiently, “Hurry, before you’re seen.” He motions for me to squeeze my massive frame into the back of the SUV and proceeds to pull through the gate.

He’s left the windows cracked so I can hear but I have no eyes on anything and a man my size wasn’t meant to spend a lot of time in the fetal position.

I’m in the back of the Porsche SUV amidst a bunch of broken pallets, tarps, and blankets. Discarded debris from the last drug pick up he made, supposedly. Although he says that’s not what we’re here for today.

I focus on controlling my breathing so I can keep it quiet. It doesn’t take long for the voices to start filtering in the cracked windows once Nikita gets out of the car.

“Niki! What are you doing here today?” The accent is heavily laced in Russian. It’s so thick that I’m surprised he isn’t just speaking that language. “Not that we aren’t glad to see you,” the man adds nervously, “We never see you anymore. It’s just, the stuff you’re usually after is on the Friday boat.”

I wish like hell I could see who was talking but I’m not even sure which direction the car is facing and I’m afraid to shift in case they can see through the tinted windows in the back as the sun beats down. It’s hot as fuck under here and I’m sweating after only a minute. I hope this doesn’t take long or I’m going to think Nikita’s plan was to roast me like a fucking pig.

Thankfully, I recognize Nikita’s voice when he starts talking so I can follow the conversation and my mind is pulled back to whatever is going on out on the dock. “Yeah, yeah. You see me plenty. Is Antonov around?”

“You just missed him,” the faceless voice replies and I know immediately that Nikita timed it like that on purpose. “I can give him a call and ask him to come back?”

“I’ll call him myself,” Nikita replies coldly, as if reminding the man he’s talking to that their leader ishisfamily. Nikita’s voice moves slightly closer to the SUV and I exhale in relief that hopefully I can uncurl from this position soon.

“Anyway, you got a full load today?”

“Like always. I don’t know where that Venezuelan fucker finds them, but I swear they keep getting hotter. Why? You in the market?”

“Max needs a couple of pushers for M.I.A. Thought I’d see what came in.”

“It’s a shame, you working for Max. You’re a thousand times smarter Niki.”

“Thanks, Ivan. It’s not so bad. It’s easy money and it means less face-time with Antonov if I’m off at the clubs.”

“I hear you, but we both know your uncle would rather see you eat a bullet, Niki. You’re a threat to his leadership because we all know that position is rightfully yours,” the man without a face says and I hear a double smack like they just clapped each other on the back.

A pause and then, “Just send two to the club tomorrow. I don’t care which ones but make sure they aren’t hooked. The last bitch you sent me stole all Max’s fucking coke before I could sell it and OD’d in the bathroom. Don’t let it happen again or you’re going to clean up the mess.” Nikita’s tone is serious but I can also hear the respect in it.

“Whatever you say, Niki. Any word on the girl and her husband yet?”

My ears perk up. Surely, he isn’t talking about…

“No, but keep your eyes peeled. We’ll run into them eventually.”

“It’s just like Santos to need you to do his dirty work for himagain. You gonna keep the girl?”

“I’m ready to cut ties. I’ve got my hands full as it is,” Nikita responds.

“Well, if she’s hot maybe –”

“Don’t fucking finish that sentence, Ivan. You, too, have plenty to keep you busy. The girl’s mine to do what I want with and you’ll keep your hands off of her regardless of whether or not I fuck her. Got it?”

“Sure thing.”

It goes quiet after that and then the car door opens.

“What was the point of this little road trip?” I whisper through my clenched jaw once Nikita is back in the SUV, keeping my head down even though my feet are numb.

“Sit up slowly and look out the window. You need to see the evidence that what I’m saying is true.”

As I cautiously peer over the edge of the window, I see young women filing off the boat into several SUVs also parked at the marina. They don’t look like rundown, strung out little girls though. They’re well dressed, with styled hair, nice clothes, and some of them are even wearing smiles.

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